Method of treating amalgams.



IINI'IED TATE PATENT @FFIQE.

JULIUS W. SMITH, 0E MADISON, MINNESOTA.

METHOD OF TREATING AMALGAMS.

No Drawing.

To all whom it on any concern:

Be it known that I, JULIUs W. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Madison, in the county of Lac qui Parle and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improrements in Methods of Treating Amalgams, of which the following is'a specification.

My invention relates to a method of treating amalgams to prevent or delay the setting or crystallization of the same until the operator desires it, in order to enable the operator to have ample time in which to insort the same in the teeth or other purposes to which it is to be applied. In filling molds, counter-dies, or cavities in teeth with amalgam it is necessary to pack the amalgam in pieces the better to condense or perfectly fill the mold, counter-die, or cavity. If this is not done quickly the last pieces of amalgam used will be in a partial state of crystallization, and thus very difiicult to work tight, and much weakened in strength when forced into the mold or cavity. In order to prevent this hardening of the amalgam I take advantage of the physical property of mercury, whereby the same becomes a solid metal at forty degrees Fahrenheit below zero. When the amalgam is freshly prepared and in a soft state, I. quickly reduce it in temperature and hold it in said state until I desire to use it. It is preferably divided into small pieces or pellets of the size needed and placed in carbon dioXid snow, or in a cell or other chamber surrounded by carbon dioXid snow; or subjected to carbon dioXid gas, nitrous oxid gas; or any other rapidly expanding gas, which will reduce it to the desired temperature.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 11, 1915.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

Serial No. 50,184.

As the amalgam is needed for use it is removed from its freezing agent, the temperature uickly rises, the mercury melts and conditions are restored whereby crystallization can take place as an amalgam. It can upon removal from its freezing agent be softened by mild heat or holding between the fingers, and be packed into its mold or cavity which is prepared to receive it. Each succeeding piece will be in a corresponding soft state and a perfect filling can be accomplished.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The method of treating and using amalgam, which consists in subjecting the same to a freezing agent and holding it in a frozen condition until the application or use of the same is desired.

2. The method of treating and using amalgam, which consists in reducing the temperature of the same until the mercury becomes solid, and then heating the mass to render it plastic and workable when it is desired to use it.

3. The method of treating and using amalgam, which consists in placing the same in a. chamber in the presence of a freezing gas or agent and holding it in a frozen condition until it is desired to use it.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JULIUS IV. SMITH.

II. I. THARALnson.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

